Partitioning terminology: is distributing the columns of a table into separate physical records called horizontal partitioning, or is that vertical partitioning?

Introduction / Context:
Correct terminology matters in physical design. Horizontal partitioning splits a table by rows; vertical partitioning splits by columns.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Horizontal: ranges or lists on a partition key assign different row sets to partitions.
• Vertical: columns are separated into different physical structures, often joined by the primary key.
• Both techniques can improve performance and manageability in different scenarios.

Concept / Approach:
The statement in the prompt mislabels column-based splitting as “horizontal.” The accurate term is “vertical partitioning.”

Step-by-Step Solution:
Map “horizontal” to row subsets (by time, region, hash).Map “vertical” to column subsets (hot/cold columns, wide attributes).Compare with the statement; identify the mismatch.Conclude the statement is invalid.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard definitions across DBMS documentation align with this distinction.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Distribution, key choice, or storage engine type does not rename the concept.

Common Pitfalls:
Using “sharding” as a catch-all and confusing it with vertical partitioning.

Final Answer:
Invalid — splitting columns is vertical partitioning, not horizontal